June 19th, 2024

Mrs Perkins's Quilt (2017)

The Mrs. Perkins's Quilt puzzle involves dividing a 13x13 square quilt into 11 specific squares. Originating in the early 1900s, researchers like Richard Guy and Ed Pegg Jr continue to advance this mathematical challenge.

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Mrs Perkins's Quilt (2017)

The Mrs. Perkins's Quilt puzzle involves dividing a 13x13 square quilt made of 169 smaller squares into the smallest number of square pieces by cutting along lattice lines. The unique solution consists of 11 squares with specific side lengths within the larger square. This problem dates back to publications by Sam Loyd and Henry Dudeney in the early 1900s. The concept of Mrs. Perkins's Quilts involves creating squares from smaller integer squares, with the order representing the number of smaller squares and the size indicating the edge length of the full quilt. Optimal quilts are those with the fewest square portions and no common factor in side lengths. Researchers like Richard Guy, Ed Pegg Jr, and Stuart Anderson have made significant contributions to discovering and analyzing these optimal quilts, with advancements in quilt construction techniques and computer programs. Recent efforts have extended the listing of optimal quilts to include larger sizes and more complex configurations, showcasing ongoing developments in this mathematical puzzle.

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By @azulster - 4 months
messed around with the tool, why wouldnt a quilt of 4 squares evenly subdivide into 4 quilts of size 1? the tool shows it subdividing into 3 quilts of size 2 and 4 squares of size 1?

i could see 4 quilts of size 2 if "quilt size" is defined as length of side for the initial 4 is actually 4 on each side (16 squares)

By @srean - 4 months
Nahin's book is a great read. I thought the page would be about that.